Abstract Nanoparticles demonstrate an important role in the protection of bioactive compounds from external factors such as temperature, oxygen and light. In this study, poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles entrapped β-carotene was produced using the nanoprecipitation method. Firstly, was evaluated the lipophilic surfactant effect and carrier agent of the active compound in the nanocapsules formulation. After choosing the most stable formulation, the nanocapsules production was optimized using β-carotene, caprylic/capric triglycerides (CCT) and soybean lecithin. Response surface methodology (RSM) was adopted to evaluate the influence of soy lecithin concentration, volume of CCT and β-carotene concentration in the particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI), encapsulation efficiency and recovery. Formulations containing soy lecithin and CCT demonstrated better stability comparing to the other formulations tested. The nanoparticle formulations presented an optimized particle size below 200 nm, PDI lower than 0.1 and encapsulation efficiency above 95%. Based on the results obtained, the optimum conditions to prepare PCL nanocapsules were 0.2160 mg/mL of β-carotene, 232.42 μL of CCT and 2.59 mg/mL of soy lecithin, suggesting an applicability to promote controlled released of β-carotene in food system.

Este estudo tem como objetivo otimizar um método alternativo para extração de carragenana sem tratamento alcalino prévio e sem precipitação com etanol através da Metodologia de Superfície de Resposta (RSM). A fim de inovar a etapa de isolamento, a secagem por atomização foi adaptada, o que reduziu o tempo para a obtenção do pó seco. Os efeitos da temperatura e do tempo de extração sobre o rendimento, força do gel e de viscosidade foram avaliados. Além disso, o material extraído foi submetido a análises estruturais por espectroscopia de infravermelho e de ressonância magnética nuclear, e composição química. Os resultados mostraram que os modelos de regressão gerados explicam adequadamente a variação de dados. Apenas a temperatura de extração afetou o rendimento e a viscosidade do gel. Entretanto, a força do gel foi influenciada tanto pelo tempo como pela temperatura de extração. As condições ótimas de extração foram 74 ºC durante 4 horas. Nessas condições, as propriedades da carragenana bruta determinadas pelo modelo polinomial foram 31,17%, 158,27 g.cm-2 e 29,5 cP, para rendimento, força do gel e viscosidade, respectivamente, enquanto que em condições experimentais foram 35,8 ± 4,68%, 112,50 ± 4,96 g.cm-2 e 16,01 ± 1,03 cP. A composição química e as análises estruturais mostraram que a carragenana extraída é principalmente κ-carragenana.

This study aims to optimize an alternative method of extraction of carrageenan without previous alkaline treatment and ethanol precipitation using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). In order to introduce an innovation in the isolation step, atomization drying was used reducing the time for obtaining dry carrageenan powder. The effects of extraction time and temperature on yield, gel strength, and viscosity were evaluated. Furthermore, the extracted material was submitted to structural analysis, by infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR), and chemical composition analysis. Results showed that the generated regression models adequately explained the data variation. Carrageenan yield and gel viscosity were influenced only by the extraction temperature. However, gel strength was influenced by both, extraction time and extraction temperature. Optimal extraction conditions were 74 ºC and 4 hours. In these conditions, the carrageenan extract properties determined by the polynomial model were 31.17%, 158.27 g.cm-2, and 29.5 cP for yield, gel strength, and viscosity, respectively, while under the experimental conditions they were 35.8 ± 4.68%, 112.50 ± 4.96 g.cm-2, and 16.01 ± 1.03 cP, respectively. The chemical composition, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy analyses showed that the crude carrageenan extracted is composed mainly of κ-carrageenan.

Com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade nutricional de cinco cultivares de alface (Mimosa Verde, Mimosa Vermelha, Vera, Regina e Lucy Brown) produzidas em cultivo hidropônico sob sistema NFT, determinou-se sua composição centesimal e seu teor de nitrato. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. O experimento foi desenvolvido no Departamento de Engenharia Rural da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis (SC), de maio a julho de 2004. As bancadas de produção possuíam sete canais com 6,0 m de comprimento e 1,50 m de largura. O espaçamento utilizado foi 0,25 m e canais e 0,25 m entre plantas no canal. A colheita foi efetuada aos 54 dias após a semeadura, e permanência por 24 dias na bancada de produção. Na cultivar de alface do tipo americana, Lucy Brown, observou-se maior teor de água da parte aérea e também maior teor de nitrato. Nas cultivares Mimosa Vermelha e Mimosa Verde verificaram, em média, maior teor de fitomassa seca da parte aérea, de lipídios, de proteína e maior valor calórico. Na cultivar Mimosa Vermelha constatou-se maior teor de carboidratos e na Mimosa Verde, o maior teor de resíduo mineral, não diferindo da cultivar Regina. O maior teor de fibra foi constatado na cultivar Regina.

The nutrition quality of five different lettuce cultivars (Mimosa Verde, Mimosa Vermelha, Vera, Regina and Lucy Brown) produced under NFT (Laminar Flow of Solution) system was determined by their centesimal composition and nitrate content. To analyze the experimental treatments it was used a completely randomized design with four replications. The experiment was developed in a greenhouse belonging to the Department of Agricultural Engineering of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, from May to July of 2004 (autumn-winter period). The lettuces were grown in a group of benches (3% declivity) with seven canals (6.0 m length and 1.50 m width) where the nutritional solution would circulate. The space used was 0.25 m between canals and 0.25 m between plants in the canal, thus in each canal 24 plants had been lodged, totalizing 168 per bench. The circulation of the nutritional solution was controlled by a timer, which set in motion the joint motion-bomb in intervals preset in a turn 24-hour. The harvest was effected 54 days after the sowing, having remained per 24 days in the production group of benches. The American type of lettuce 'Lucy Brown', also presented a greater water content in its shoot as well as nitrate content than the others. Mimosa Vermelha and Mimosa Verde cultivars had on average, greater dry mass content theirs of shoots, as well as lipids, protein and caloric value than the others. 'Mimosa Vermelha' presented greater carbohydrates content and 'Mimosa Verde' the greater mineral residue content, but not differing from Regina cultivar. The biggest fiber content was presented by 'Regina'.

Nos últimos anos, muito interesse tem sido focado no potencial biotecnológico das microalgas, principalmente devido à identificação de diversas substâncias sintetizadas por estes organismos. A imensa biodiversidade e conseqüente variabilidade na composição bioquímica da biomassa obtida das culturas microalgais, aliadas ao emprego de melhoramento genético e ao estabelecimento de tecnologia de cultivo em grande escala, vêm permitindo que determinadas espécies sejam comercialmente utilizadas. Nesse sentido, cultivos de microalgas têm sido realizados visando à produção de biomassa tanto para uso na elaboração de alimentos quanto para a obtenção de compostos naturais com alto valor no mercado mundial. Dentre os inúmeros compostos extraídos, ou com potencial de exploração comercial, podem ser relacionados ácidos graxos poliinsaturados, carotenóides, ficobilinas, polissacarídeos, vitaminas, esteróis e diversos compostos bioativos naturais (antioxidantes, redutores do colesterol etc.), os quais podem ser empregados especialmente no desenvolvimento de alimentos funcionais, por suas propriedades nutricionais e farmacêuticas.

In recent years, much interest has been focused on the biotechnological potential of microalgae, mainly due the identification of several substances synthesized by these organisms. The great biodiversity and consequent variability in the biochemical composition of the biomass obtained from the microalgal cultures, allied to the genetic improvement and to the establishment of technology in massive production, have allowed various species to be commercially cultivated. In this sense, microalgae cultivations have been developed aiming at the biomass production not only for use in the food elaboration but also for the obtainment of natural compounds with high value in the world market. Among the main extracted substances, or with potential of commercial exploration, can be related polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, phycobilins, polysaccharides, vitamins, sterols and several bioactive compounds (antioxidants, cholesterol reducers etc.), the which ones can be especially used in the development of functional food, for its nutritional and pharmaceutical properties.